| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Hum from BMI Guitar with an Original BL705
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Hum from BMI Guitar with an Original BL705
Ken Mizell


From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2020 3:14 pm    
Reply with quote

I just bought a used, refurbished, BMI SD-10 (3/4 body). It's in very nice shape, in all regards. It has an original Bill Lawrence 705 in it - the original with the chrome around it. There are no signs of damage.

The pickup works, however, when I get my hands near the pickup, it starts to hum, and is rather annoying. It's even worse when I actually touch the chrome surrounding the pickup. The volume of the hum varies with the volume pedal position. When experimenting, I eliminated the volume pedal, plugging directly into the amp, and I've also tried more than one cable between the guitar and the amp. Everything I try gives me the same noise.

I haven't messed with the pickup or the jack on the guitar yet.

I'm hoping there is nothing wrong with the pickup, since this is an original BL705, and any replacement isn't cheap. If it's a problem with the wiring at the jack, that will be easy.

Any ideas or guidance will be most appreciated.
_________________
Steeless.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Mike Auman


From:
North Texas, USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2020 3:58 pm    
Reply with quote

Ken, it sounds like there's a wire disconnected, probably a ground. If so, it would be either black insulated, or plain stranded wire with no insulation. Trace those from the pickup to the output jack and look for a loose end.
_________________
Long-time guitar player, now wrestling with lap steel.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ken Mizell


From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2020 4:59 pm    
Reply with quote

Thanks Mike. I'll turn the guitar over and start looking. It's open territory in the area of the pickup wires and jack.
_________________
Steeless.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ken Mizell


From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2020 5:14 pm    
Reply with quote

Here's what I found. I think I need to get my soldering iron out and heat it up. The top one doesn't look too good, but the bottom one certainly needs some work.





_________________
Steeless.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Mike Auman


From:
North Texas, USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2020 5:58 pm    
Reply with quote

Yep, I think that black wire is the culprit.
_________________
Long-time guitar player, now wrestling with lap steel.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ken Mizell


From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2020 6:22 pm    
Reply with quote

I'll report back on the outcome.
_________________
Steeless.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ron Pruter

 

From:
Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 17 Dec 2020 7:57 pm    
Reply with quote

Check to see if there is a wrap around shield around the blk and red wire back at the first see-through strap/screw connector. If there is, connect that wrap to the same connection as the black wire on the jack. If this doesn't help after you've done all the work previously mentioned, Measure the ohms of the pick up with an ohm meter and let us know. Should be somewhere between 12k-20k ohms. Very high or very low readings spells trouble. RP
_________________
Emmons SKH Le Grande, '73 Fender P/J bass, Tick tack bass, Regal high strung, USA Nashville 112.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ken Mizell


From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
Post  Posted 22 Dec 2020 6:03 am    
Reply with quote

Update: I put in a new jack. Red to tip. Black to ground. I pealed off the black electrical tape and I find no shield. I did, however, find a green and white wire soldered together. Per info I found on another thread, connecting the white and green wires turns ON the single coil. Disconnecting the white and green turns ON the humbucker. So, the pup should be wired correctly now. The hum and sensitivity to touch is better, and may have decreased 75-80%. It is still noticeable enough to be annoying, kind of like a single coil pup in a bad electrical environment. Solution. - New pickup. A friend of mine has several spare, barely used pickups (almost a shoe box full), and he gave me a few to try. He will sell me what I want. I’m going to decide between a George L E66, and a BL 710 or LxR-16 (labeling is messed up, not sure what it is). I don’t have an ohm meter, yet.
_________________
Steeless.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ken Mizell


From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
Post  Posted 22 Dec 2020 6:27 am    
Reply with quote

I found this diagram on the Bill Lawrence pickups web site. I may have the pickup wired wrong. Thoughts?


_________________
Steeless.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Calvin Todd


From:
The Ozarks, MO
Post  Posted 26 Dec 2020 3:20 pm    
Reply with quote

Just got a Carter with Xr16’s and love em! Make sure you give those a good shot
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ken Mizell


From:
Lakeland, Florida, 33809, USA
Post  Posted 31 Dec 2020 5:57 pm    
Reply with quote

I solved my problem today, with this:



The tone sounds really good to me. The pickup is extremely quiet and clear. I'm liking this pickup a lot. The E66 is staying in the BMI.
_________________
Steeless.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron